The Harvest [Unedited]

XVIII

CW/ Mentions of rape and sexism. Please be advised.

Alexa's POV

"You should eat," ani Jacob nang ilapag niya ang platong naglalaman ng fried egg at bacon sa harapan ko. "We can't work on an empty stomach."

I sighed and nodded. Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang wall clock sa loob ng kaniyang opisina at napagtantong tanghali na pala. Ibinaling ko ang atensyon ko sa kapatid ko na abala sa pagsusuri ng mga dokumentong nakalap namin sa basement ni Detective Ross habang mabilis na sinusubo ang kaniyang pagkain.

"Are you sure we should not tell the higher-ups about this?" tanong niya na nagpakunot sa noo ko. Gusto ba niyang mawalan kami ng trabaho?

"We're already doing this for two days and we still can't figure out anything new. Kailangan nating kwestyonin si Mr. Dematera kung gusto nating umarangkada ang imbestigasyon," dagdag pa niya. "Isa pa, this feels illegal. Does it not, Jacob?"

Napatigil ang partner ko sa pagtitipa sa kaniyang laptop at napatingin sa gawi ko bago sinagot si Alec. "We can easily brush off the trespassing issue but not this one. Investigating Mr. Dematera without the knowledge of the director is a violation of the code."

I pressed my temples and watched the smoke coming from the food. Hindi ko gustong ipaalam sa nakatataas ang mga natuklasan namin dahil hindi sila maniniwala. They already deemed Mateo unsuspecting, why would they let us continue investigating him?

Nabaling ang atensyon ko kay Jacob nang bigla akong nakarinig ng pamilyar na vibration. Pinulot niya ang kaniyang work phone at ilang sandali ring nakipag-usap nang ibaba niya ang tawag.

"Hazel called. Kailangan ko raw tignan ang bangkay na idinala sa Bangged kahapon. They found something new and they're saying I have to look at it," paliwanag niya habang sinusuot ang kaniyang police jacket. "I need to get going. Maiwan ko muna kayo ni Alec."

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ng kambal ko pagkatapos isara ni Detective Costello ang pinto ng kaniyang opisina.

"I'm not going to report this." Inunahan ko na siya. He knows what's going to happen if I were the one to go there.

"I know. But they're also not going to believe me either. Jacob is our best shot, pero hindi naman natin siya pwedeng hintayin na bumalik na wala tayong nagagawa, Alexa."

Unti-unti akong nawawalan ng pag-asa sa kaso na'to dahil parang mismong ang tadhana yata ang pumipigil sa amin. I understood what Esmeralda meant when she warned us not to meddle, but I also can't just sit back and watch from the sidelines.

Lives are at stake here and we are racing with the clock. Kung hindi kami ang lulutas nito, sino?

"Also... I wasn't granted the position to handle this case."

"Huh?! So you're investigating this without their consent? Are you out of your mind?! Paano kapag nalaman nila? Tanggal ka kaagad sa serbisyo! Jusko naman Alec, sana una pa lang sinabi mo na!"

Napasalampak ako sa sofa at napahawak sa aking balingusan. Of all people, he sure is the most hard-headed one. Hindi ko alam kung saan siya pupulutin kung sakaling matunugan siya ng mga tao sa taas.

"But that's not the concern right now," may giliw sa kaniyang boses nang sambitin niya 'yon. Pinanood ko siyang laruin ang ballpen na hawak at umupo sa swivel chair ni Jacob at ipinaikot ito.

"Why is that not your concern?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay, "at pwedeng bang itigil mo 'yang kalalaro sa upuan?"

"It's not my concern because this investigation is your concern. You were granted this case, together with Jacob. Actually, he recommended you and that's quite a shock since he never once asked for a partner."